Wire cutting attachment for firearms.



J. C. DOUST.

WIRE CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-9,1915.

1,173,936. 7 Pateglted Feb. 29,1916.

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% ik- W ATTIC THE COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D. c

UNTTE STATES PATNT OFFICE.

JAMES CALIB DOUST, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR 0F THREE-FOURTHS TO JAMES H. LUMBERS, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

WIRE-CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR FIREARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed April 9, 1915. Serial No. 20,228.

troops to carry wire cutting appliances, and

my object is to devise a wire-cutting tool which may be carried on or quickly attached to a rifle, and which may be used with the rifle advanced in front and in convenient position for firing.

I attain my object by pivoting a movable shear blade between two plates, one of which forms a stationary shear blade, and

by providing an operating handle spring actuated to hold the movable blade in closed position. The aforesaid plates and movable blade are shaped so that a wire against which the device is pressed will find its way between the blades and open the handle. The device is clamped to the rifle barrel so that by gripping the handle and the barrel, the former may be pressed up to its normal position close to the barrel and the wire cut.

The device is constructed in detail substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a rifle provided with my wire-cutting attachment; Fig. 2 a side elevation of my attachment partly in section and shown applied to a gun barrel; and Fig. 3 a front elevation of the same.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The device is shown provided with what I find to be the most convenient means for attaching it to a gun barrel, though other means might be employed. The attaching means comprises a curved plate 1 adapted to fit the wood 2 with which the metal barrel 3 is protected. This curved plate is provided with a clamp constructed as follows: Two blocks 4 are provided, each hinged to one side of the plate 1. These blocks are suitably beveled to engage the barrel as shown. Each block is slotted above, and to one of them is pivoted the bolt 5, which may be swung down to the position shown in the drawings, or swung up to release the blocks. Then the bolt is in the position shown, by tlghtening up the wing nut 6, the device may be securely clamped in place for use.

To the curved plate 1 are Secured by their upper edges 2. pair of plates 7 and 8. Preferably the connection is by means of rivet lugs 9, which are provided with projections riveted in holes in the plate 1. These lugs lie between the plates 7 and 8, and the plates and lugs are secured together by the rivets 10. The plate 8 is used as a stationary shear blade to cooperate with the movable shear blade 11. The rear end of the movable blade is connected by means of a pin and sl t connection with the handle 12, which is forked as shown, and is pivoted outside the blades 7 and 8 by means of the pivots 13. Preferably the operating connection between the movable blade and the handle is by means of the pin 14 extending between the jaws of the handle and the slot 15 formed in the end of the movable blade. As it is desired that the normal position of the device shall be with the movable shear blade closed, I provide the coil spring 16, which tends to move the parts to close the shear blade. Preferably the coil spring is connected with the handle and with the rearward lug 9, so that when the handle is drawn up to contact with the rifle, the coil spring is practically entirely hidden. It is desired that it shall be possible to engage a wire between the shear blades by simply pushing the device forward against the obstructing wire. I therefore form the blades 7 and 8 with flaring jaws 17 narrowing down until the edges 18 are reached.

The movable blade has its cutting edge preferably beleved so as'to cooperate with the edge 18 on one of the plates; The cutting edge of the movable blade extends forwardly and the end of the blade is curved to gradually fall in behind the jaws of the plates. The normal position is shown in Fig. l and it is evident that by pushing the device forward against a wire, the parts will easily be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 2, when it is only necessary to clasp simultaneously the rifle barrel and the handle 12 to draw the latter up and cut the wire. It will be noted that plenty of leverage is provided to make the device a very eflicient cutting tool.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised an attachment which will effectively carry out the objects of my invention as set out in the preamble to this specification.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a supporting device of a wire-cutting attachment clamped thereto comprising a stationary shear blade, having a forwardly facing jaw formed therein; a movable shear blade cooperating with one side of the jaw of the stationary blade; a pivoted handle adapted to actuate the movable blade and suitably positioned that it may be actuated by a hand grasping it and the support; and a spring tending to move thehandle to the position it assumes when the movable blade is closed, the two blades being shaped so that byforward pressure against a wire the movable blade will open.

2. The combination with a supporting device of a wire-cutting attachment clamped thereto comprising a stationary blade having a forwardly facing jaw formed therein with a flaring mouth; and a movable blade fulcrumed on the stationary blade back of the jaw and adapted to cooperate with one side of the jaw; an operating handle pivoted on the stationary blade forward of the rear end of the movable blade; and an operating connection between the handle and the rear end of the movable blade.

3. Thecombination with a supporting device of a wire-cutting attachment clamped thereto comprising a stationary blade having a forwardly facing jaw formed therein with a flaring mouth; a movable blade fulcrumed on the stationary blade back of the jaw and adapted to cooperate with one side of the jaw; an operating handle pivoted on the stationary blade forward of the rear end ofthe movable blade; and a pin-and-slot operating connection between the handle and the rear end of the movable blade.

4:. The combination with a supporting device of a wire-cutting attachment clamped thereto comprising a stationary blade having a forwardly facing jaw formed therein with a flaring mouth; a movable blade fulcrumed on the stationary blade back of the jaw and adapted to cooperate with one side of the jaw; an operating handle pivoted 011 the stationary blade forward of the rear end of the movable blade; an operating connection between the handle and the rear end of the movable blade; and a spring tending tomove the handle to'the position it assumes when the movable blade is closed, the movable blade being shaped to cooperate with the jaw of the stationary blade so that by forward pressure against a wire the movable blade will open.

5. A wire cutting attachment for fire arms comprising detachable means for securing it to a rifle; cooperating movable and stationary blades normally spring retained in closed position, the two blades being shaped so that by forward pressure against the wire the movable blade will open; and a handle adapted to operate the movable blade positioned so that it may be actuated by a hand grasping the rifle barrel.

6. A wire cutting attachment comprising a movable shear blade; a pair of plates between which said movable blade is pivoted, one of them forming a stationary shear blade; a handle forked to embrace said plates and pivoted thereon forward of the rear end of the movable blade; and a pin carried by the forked part of the handle, the rear end of the 'movable blade being slotted to embrace the pin.

7. A wire cutting attachment comprising a movable shear blade; a pair of plates between which said movable blade'ispivoted, one of them forming a stationary shear blade; a handle forked to embrace said plates and pivoted thereon forward of the rear end of the movable blade; a pin carried by the forked part of the handle, the rear end of the movable blade being slotted to embrace the pin; and a curved plate to which the upper edges of the pair of plates are secured.

8. A wire cutting attachment comprising a movable shear blade; a pair of plates between which said movable blade is pivoted, one of them forming a stationary shear blade; a handle forked to embrace said plates and pivoted thereon forward of the rear end of the movable blade; a pin carried by the forked part of the handle, the rear end of the movable blade being slotted to embrace the pin; and a spring tending to close the movable jaw, the aforesaid plates and movable blade being shaped so that by forward pressure against a wire the movable blade will open.

9. A wire cutting attachment for fire arms comprising a curved plate; a releasable clamp engaging opposite sides of said plate whereby it may be clamped to a rifle barrel; a pair of plates secured at their upper edges to said curved plate, one of them forming a stationary shear blade; a movable blade pivoted between the said plates; an operating handle embracing and pivoted on the plates; and an operating connection between the handle and movable shear blade.

10. A wire cutting attachment for fire arms comprising a curved plate; a 'pair of plates secured at their upper edges to said curved plate, one of them forming asta- Signed at Toronto, Ont. this 6th day of tionary shear blade; a movable blade pivoted April, A. D. 1915.

between the said plates; an operating handle JAMES CALIB DOUST. pivoted on the plates; and an operating con- In the presence of- 5 nection between the handle and movable E. P. HALL,

shear blade. L. M. LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

